Reading the thread on the guy with the new Axis, it got me thinking. Who makes their kids wear lifejackets and who leads by example?

I grew up on sailing yachts, wearing a lifejacket on the boat was simply non negotiable. I then moved onto racing dinghies, when racing you must wear a lifejacket and TBH at any other time, you wear one too. Forward wind a few years, we have a 5 year old and 2 year old that we take out on our old Xstar (my dad always poked fun at me for not having a proper boat, i.e. with sails) The boys wear lifejackets all the time, there is always one adult per child on the boat too. I recently bought my wife and I self inflating lifejackets to help set an example and plan to wear them. To me it's common sense, yes it can be a hassle, not cool, etc but I see it as par for the course, if you are on the water you wear a lifejacket.

I windsurf too, and no I don't wear a lifejacket, to a degree hypocritical, but you quite simply you can't wear one. But on a boat, there is nothing stopping you from wearing one.

In Texas and child under 12 I believe has to be in one while the boat is in motion. So ours both stay in one. My wife and I keep ours on after a set until we feel we have our legs back under us and we have gained our strength back.

In Texas and child under 12 I believe has to be in one while the boat is in motion. So ours both stay in one. My wife and I keep ours on after a set until we feel we have our legs back under us and we have gained our strength back.

Technically 12 and under in Texas

"All children under 13 years of age in or on vessels under 26 feet in length must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable PFD while underway. Underway means not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground."

For kids, all of the swimming lessons and all of the "safe" hours on the boat without a life jacket mean nothing on that one day someone goes overboard at speed. It's best just to put one on him.

I have 3 kids, 5, 3 and 8 months and they all wear life vests since they were babies. I don't wear a vest unless I'm riding or surfing. In WA and ID, kids must be in a life jacket in boats less than 19'. However, there are additional rules for the county you may be in, for me in Spokane County there is no vessel length stipulation, here is what the county says:

- No person may operate or permit to be operated a vessel underway, unless each person twelve years of age or younger thereon is wearing a personal flotation device.
- All persons regardless of age shall wear a personal flotation device while on moving water.

That moving water part obviously means on a river, which we have lots of big ones around here. Just make sure you read all the state, county and specific rules for the body of water you plan to be on.

My 7 and 8 year old wear vests from the minute we get out of the car. Its non negotiable. They know they aren't making it 1 step on the dock without one or we are going home. No one wears a non cga vest on my boat to ride. If I want to wear a non cga thats fine but its only when skating or surfing. Otherwise its more risk on me and them. Maybe a stupid rule but I don't need someone drowning behind my boat because they needed a cool vest.

Behind the boat everyone wears one no exceptions. In the boat laws states under 13 must have one. I don't make the older teens wear theirs unless conditions get rough, just in case. In the coves, I like to wear mine & just float around

Behind the boat EVERYONE wears one, every time. In the boat, in past years, only my youngest daughter and young friends (who are required by law). This will be the first year the my daughter is old enough to not have that requirement...to celebrate, we bought her a new vest. (Which she will only be expected to wear in the water)

Wow I have not read the SC law in a long time but it seems it is more relaxed than I remember. No matter what the law says all kids wear life jackets in my boat. Behind the boat we do as well. According to the law it seems to mean kids in a bigger boat do not have to wear a life jacket??

All vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (life jacket) that is U.S. Coast Guard–approved, wearable, and of the proper size for each person on board or being towed. Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size.

South Carolina law requires all children under 12 years of age to wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD while on board a Class A (less than 16 feet long) vessel. The life jacket must be fastened and of the proper size for the child.

Behind the boat everyone wears a CGA no exceptions. Anyone 12 and under wears one in the boat no exceptions. When we go in intracoastal if you hit the water even to swim your wearing one no exceptions. Very strong currents. In the lake we swim without them depending on conditions.

I have 3 young kids and lots of nieces and nephews on the boat so as adults we all wear lifejackets to set the example. We actually have it as a rule on the boat that everyone must wear there jacket. We may not look cool but the safety of my family is more important to me.

Shred, there are some sling type vests for infants which are really good. WalMart sells them in the USA and there are others out there. They have a sort of mesh that goes around the back. We used to keep our little ones in their PFD and set into the car seat for comfort but not strapped in.

i wear a comp vest and that works great for me when surfing and wakeboarding And when i have my wetsuit on i wear just that on wakesurfing only. I always wear a comp vest when wakeboarding.

Whats the law in Texas as far as skiing wakeboarding wakesurfing ect.... with out a vest. I know that in the past it was not required by law to wear one. Has that changed. I have looked for it but i guess not in the right place

I have a Hyperlite one like above and the boys prefer it to the neoprene body glove one we have. Both of my boys have out grown them but we keep them in boat so if friends with little ones come out with us they don't have to buy one for the couple of times they use them. My boys know if they are in the boat they have their vests on. I don't wear mine in the boat. I have never had a problem with children not wanting to wear them just because the adults don't have them on. Explain that there is an age limit to lots of things driving, voting, drinking and most importantly not having to wear a vest in my boat. Only exception to the rule is if we are anchored and one of the boys falls asleep we take them off because they get to hot... but someone is in the boat with them if they have their vest off.

Rare exceptions for adults who are VERY strong swimmers and dogs. Otherwise all passengers in vests at all times. Yes they're hot, and they can be less comfortable. Get a better vest, or jump in and cool off. THEY SAVE LIVES. Others are free to do as they wish. I might be a little less strict in a larger boat where passengers sit down in more and it rides smoother. In my 85 MasterCraft however, a vest is the rule. We also generally don't take our adult beverages out with us. (Again, there are rare exceptions.)

Behind the boat everyone - non negociable, in boat only kids 13 and under or non swimmers (business clients / some of the wifes friends) and the occasional drunk that is "that guy" on a big weekend. Funny I never met a non-swimmer in my entire life until I moved to WA. Suprising that there are so many up here when there is water everywhere.

For us all the kids wear lifejackets..always. I know have 2 that are above age that its required, but they don't know any different and still wear them. My wife wears hers a lot because she is not a strong swimmer. I don't dictate to adults, but kids its mandatory. Here it is anyone 12 and under and the fines are pretty steep. Like some have said things happen quickly and even kids that are good swimmer can drown quickly. My kids are all strong swimmers and have been in the water their whole lives. My older 2 swim better than 75% of the adults out there and they still wear them and will continue to.

My son is 3 years old and he wears a life jacket 100% of the time when we're on the boat. He will continue to do so until he is legally not required to, which is 12 here in Washington if your boat is under 19 feet. He will wear one even when we are on a larger boat. He will have the same rules I had when I was growing up on the water.

-Under 12, need a life jacket at all times.
-Teenagers and adults can wear one if they want.
-Everyone except adults needs a life jacket to get in the water.
-Everyone getting towed wears a life jacket. No exceptions.
-If the captain tells you, you need to put on a life jacket, it's for a good reason (weather, bad chop, etc.) you put it on, no questions.

Me I only wear one if I'm getting in the water, unless it's something that isn't practical, like undoing a rope tangled in the prop. Otherwise I won't wear one unless the conditions warrant it.

I wear a life jacket and a helmet pretty much all the time - on or off the boat. You cannot be TOO safe! I mean water hazards are everywhere! For instance, driving in the car, have you ever noticed how many ditches have water in them? If there is an accident and I wind up in that ditch - Who's gonna float!? That's right bitch - Me! Because I am in my CGA life vest. Don't even get me started on swimming pools or mall fountains (aka water death traps for the unprepared)
I don't have children yet.. For some reason I have a hard time with the fairer sex..
But rest assured when I do have offspring they will be in their CGA vests and helmets 24/7. If I let them on the boat at all I will likely need to devise a full body suit for complete protection.. Maybe something that integrates with the helmet.. I don't know still thinking that out.

Also, someone mentioned alcohol on the boat. I tell you, I might rarely enjoy an adult beverage, but never within a 30 mile radius of a body of water. In fact, I highly recommend dialysis before boating just to be double sure there is no residual blood alcohol from prior consumption in previous days.